French President Emmanuel Macron is searching for his fifth prime minister in less than two years after opposition parties combined to oust centre-right leader François Bayrou over his unpopular budget-cutting plans.
Bayrou’s nine-month tenure ended on Monday night when he lost a parliamentary confidence vote.
On Tuesday afternoon, he tendered his resignation to Macron, according to the government website, which added that Bayrou and his cabinet would remain in a caretaker role until a successor is appointed.
Whoever Macron names will face the daunting challenge of forging consensus in parliament to secure approval for next year’s budget. France is under mounting pressure to rein in a deficit nearly double the EU’s 3% limit, alongside a debt burden equal to 114% of GDP.
Defence Minister Sébastien Lecornu has been floated as a possible successor, while Macron may also consider a centre-left figure or a technocrat. There are no rules dictating his choice or timing, though a government source indicated he could make the appointment as early as Tuesday.
A poll published by RTL on Tuesday found Jordan Bardella, president of the far-right National Rally (RN), was the most popular choice among the public, with 43% favouring him. RN leader Marine Le Pen and conservative Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau both drew 36% support.
The RN has urged Macron to step down or call fresh parliamentary elections. Although Macron has dismissed the idea of resigning, surveys suggest most voters would welcome either option. His snap election last year left France with a fractured legislature that has made even basic governance difficult.
Socialist Party leader Olivier Faure told France Inter radio: “We need to claim power.”
Meanwhile, French businesses have voiced concern over the fallout of the political crisis.
“The government’s collapse compounds months of instability that have already eroded economic confidence,” said Maya Noël of tech lobby group France Digitale. “For the innovation sector, this instability has an immediate price: it hampers investment and hiring.”
The country is also bracing for “Block Everything” demonstrations on Wednesday, which have spread across social media in echoes of the 2018 Yellow Vest protests.
Paris police chief Laurent Nuñez told BFM TV that 80,000 officers would be deployed nationwide, warning of potential efforts to block major roads and stations, as well as the risk of violent unrest.
Labour unions have separately announced a day of strikes and protests for 18 September.
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Finland and Sweden have called for tougher economic measures against Russia, proposing higher import duties, export restrictions, and an EU ban on Russian energy shipments.
Finance ministers from the G7 and partner nations met in Washington on Monday to discuss a potential price floor for strategic rare-earth metals and ways to secure their supply. Representatives from Australia, Mexico, South Korea and India also attended the talks.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has said allied nations are discussing “next steps” to ensure the security of the Arctic, citing concerns that Russia and China could become more active in the strategically important region.
The U.S. has issued an urgent security notice calling all American citizens to leave Iran immediately, citing escalating protests, growing violence and widespread communication shutdowns across the country.
Real Madrid have parted ways with coach Xabi Alonso, appointing former defender Álvaro Arbeloa as his replacement.
Timothée Chalamet won the Golden Globe for best male actor in a musical or comedy on Sunday for his role in Marty Supreme, beating strong competition in one of the night’s most closely watched categories.
Hawaii’s Kīlauea volcano is showing increased activity, with lava flowing from two summit craters and flames, smoke and ash rising from the caldera.
Bob Weir, the rhythm guitarist, songwriter and co-founder of the Grateful Dead, has died at the age of 78, his family has said.
Israel has sharply escalated its warnings to Lebanon amid rising regional tensions linked to Iran, according to a report by the Lebanese newspaper Nida Al Watan.
Finland and Sweden have called for tougher economic measures against Russia, proposing higher import duties, export restrictions, and an EU ban on Russian energy shipments.
Finance ministers from the G7 and partner nations met in Washington on Monday to discuss a potential price floor for strategic rare-earth metals and ways to secure their supply. Representatives from Australia, Mexico, South Korea and India also attended the talks.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has said allied nations are discussing “next steps” to ensure the security of the Arctic, citing concerns that Russia and China could become more active in the strategically important region.
The U.S. has issued an urgent security notice calling all American citizens to leave Iran immediately, citing escalating protests, growing violence and widespread communication shutdowns across the country.
President Donald Trump said on Monday any country that does business with Iran will face a tariff rate of 25% on trade with the U.S., as Washington weighs a response to the situation in Iran which is seeing its biggest anti-government protests in years.
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